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Never before in his first eight seasons has Edwin Encarnacion had more walks than strike outs. The closest he came was last year (84 walks, 94 strikeouts). This season he has 82 walks and 62 whiffs with 13 games remaining.

“If they don’t give me my pitch, I don’t swing,” said Encarnacion. “I took a lot of walks last year ... but I struck out a lot too last year.

“This year I’m trying to foul the ball off with two strikes.”

Encarnacion struck out to end Sunday’s game his bat twirling over the Jays dugout.

“His wrist is still bothering him,” said manager John Gibbons. “You can really see it when he swings at a pitch and misses or tries to check his swing.”

Scout’s review

“I know Encarnacion is not 100%, but the best hitter on the team is that Moises Sierra kid,” said a visiting evaluator. “Now, as for where you play him? He has DH written over all over him after seeing him in the outfield.” Sierra had two hits on Sunday giving him a .524 (11-for-24) average on the home stand against the Anaheim Angels and the Orioles with six doubles, a triple and four RBIs.

Scratch

Colby Rasmus, who played Friday and Saturday, homering each day after coming off the disabled list, was a late scratch due to the pounding he took on the turf the first two days back in the lineup.

Backing Buehrle

Anthony Gose took over in centre for Rasmus and made a highlight-reel diving catch to steal a base hit from Nick Markakis in the sixth. Second baseman Ryan Goins saved Buehrle from a bases-loaded jam in the fourth when he made a diving stop of a Danny Valencia grounder in shallow right and fired to first for the final out.

Honours for Cecil

Lefty Brett Cecil will receive the outstanding achievement in pro ball award at the Mid Atlantic Scouts Association Hall of Fame banquet to be held on Nov. 9, at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, Md. Baltimore Orioles GM Dan Duquette was selected executive of the year, John Hagemann, Dave Littlefield, and Jeff Taylor, who used to work for the Jays were elected to the MASA Hall of Fame. Former Blue Jays GM Gord Ash hired Taylor from the Texas Rangers in 2001 giving him a two-year deal as a national cross checker. A day later, Ash was fired. Cecil was a member of the AL all-star team this summer. Previous winners have been Mike Cuddyer, Minnesota Twins, Don Kelly, Detroit Tigers and Steve Johnson, Orioles.

Happy 87th

‘Elevator Joe’ Joseph Bednarz turned 87 on Sunday. Joe worked the assembly line, drove a lift truck for 33 years at the Ford plant in Oakville until retiring and leads the Rogers Centre in smiles.

Numbers

The three walks issued by Mark Buehrle were the most since July 20, a span of 12 starts. For the lefty it was the 15th time in 18 starts he’s limited the Orioles to three runs or less. Buehrle lost back-to-back starts for the third time this season, failing to pitch at least six innings in successive starts for the third time this season. The lefty has worked 194 1/3 innings this season ... Goins ended an 0-for-13 skid with a double ... For the 16th time in the last 19 games an opposing pitcher held the Jays to three runs or less.

Blue Jays' Edwin Encarnacion has great plate discipline

Never before in his first eight seasons has Edwin Encarnacion had more walks than strike outs. The closest he came was last year (84 walks, 94 strikeouts). This season he has 82 walks and 62 whiffs with 13 games remaining.

“If they don’t give me my pitch, I don’t swing,” said Encarnacion. “I took a lot of walks last year ... but I struck out a lot too last year.

“This year I’m trying to foul the ball off with two strikes.”

Encarnacion struck out to end Sunday’s game his bat twirling over the Jays dugout.

“His wrist is still bothering him,” said manager John Gibbons. “You can really see it when he swings at a pitch and misses or tries to check his swing.”